Do you want to be a Nigerian citizen or just want to know what the law says about how to become a Nigerian citizen? This article is for you. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended is our guide in this speech. Section 25 of the Constitution it defines who is a Nigerian citizen and also sets out the criteria for becoming one, if you are not already one.

The constitution recognizes 3 types of citizenship and stipulates the requirements to become each of them. The 3 types of Nigerian citizenship are:

1. Citizenship by birth

2. Citizenship by registration

3. Citizenship by naturalization

For the sake of clarity, each of the types will now be discussed in greater detail.

Birthright Citizenship

Who is a Nigerian citizen by birth?

1. Every person is a Nigerian citizen by birth if:

(a) was born in Nigeria before October 1, 1960, i.e. the date of Nigeria’s independence

(b) your parents or grandparents belonged to an indigenous Nigerian community

(c) your parents or grandparents were born in Nigeria.

2. Every person is a Nigerian citizen by birth if:

(a) was born in Nigeria after the date of independence, and

(b) either of your parents or grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria

3. Any person born outside of Nigeria whose parents are citizens of Nigeria is also a Nigerian citizen by birth.

It can be seen from above that Nigeria, unlike the United States, Great Britain and some other nations of the world, does not grant birthright citizenship to anyone simply because they were born in Nigeria. So, that is the plight of a non-Nigerian born in Nigeria, but there are other options for him.

Citizenship by Registration

Only two sets of non-Nigerians can acquire this form of citizenship. Is it so:

1) a foreign woman married to a Nigerian citizen, and

2) any person not less than 18 years of age and capacity born outside Nigeria, either of whose grandparents is a citizen of Nigeria.

Either of these two people can apply for Nigerian citizenship through registration. The President of Nigeria may register such a person if he is satisfied that:

(i) the person is of good character

(ii) has shown a clear intention to wish to reside in Nigeria, and

(iii) he/she has taken the prescribed Oath of Allegiance to Nigeria.

A non-Nigerian applying for registration must renounce their citizenship of another country other than by birth within 12 months of their registration as a Nigerian citizen.

Citizenship by Naturalization

Any non-Nigerian can be granted a certificate of naturalization if that person can convince the President of Nigeria that

1. is a person not less than 18 years of age and capacity

2. He is a person of good character

3. has shown a clear intention to want to domicile in Nigeria

4. is, in the opinion of the Governor of the state where he resides or plans to reside, acceptable to the local community in which he is to permanently live and has been assimilated into the ways of life of Nigerians in that part of the country

5. is a person who has made or is capable of making a useful contribution to the progress of Nigeria

6. has taken the prescribed Nigerian Allegiance Pledge

7. you have immediately before the date of your application either

I. resided in Nigeria for a continuous period of 15 years or

ii. she resided in Nigeria continuously for a period of 12 months, and during the 12-year period immediately preceding the 12-month period she has resided in Nigeria for periods totaling not less than 15 years.

However, the constitution requires a person who has been issued a certificate of naturalization to renounce their citizenship of any other country. This applies only to her citizenship of any country other than by birth.

It must have been seen from the above that acquiring citizenship by naturalization is only possible when a person has resided in Nigeria for a total period of not less than 15 years. So the number of years is just the main criteria here.